Farm Security Week: Farmers urged to assessment security measures

Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president William Irvine is encouraging farmers to assessment security measures on their farm and work out what will be performed to enhance it this Farm Security Week.

“For instance, signage concerning slurry pits, high-powered tools and livestock could make an enormous distinction and can assist to maintain you and farm employees secure all yr spherical,” he mentioned.

“By doing this, you aren’t solely actively working to maintain your self secure, however you might be additionally defending the farm enterprise and most significantly your loved ones, from the devastating expertise of dropping a cherished one.”

The eleventh annual Farm Security Week, an initiative by the Farm Security Basis involving organisations throughout the UK and Eire, kicks off in the present day (Monday, July 17) with the theme ‘Farm Security Begins with Me’.

Frequent excuses like ‘I’ve at all times performed it that means’ and ‘I’m in a rush’ are “not adequate causes for risk-taking, poor upkeep of kit or unsafe working”, Stephanie Berkeley from the Farm Security Basis, mentioned.

“Whereas we’re seeing extra individuals calling out poor practices and sharing their experiences there appears to be a broad acceptance that that is simply how it’s in farming?” she added.

Berkeley reminds that the agriculture mortality charges stay “stubbornly excessive”; 21 individuals have been killed in work-related incidents within the agriculture, forestry and fishing trade in Nice Britain final yr.

In keeping with the Well being and Security Government (HSE), that is “markedly increased than the typical throughout all industries”.

Camilla Mackey, HSE Northern Eire’s principal inspector of the agri-food workforce, added: “I’m interesting to the farming neighborhood to contemplate the dangers they face, and, put correct precautions in place to make sure duties are carried out safely. It may simply save your life.”

Farm Security Week

The Nationwide Farmers’ Union (NFU) over the week this yr is encouraging farmers to “take 5 to remain alive”, with the concept that taking 5 minutes earlier than a duties permits time to judge the duty at hand and implement methods to make the duty safer.

It additionally encourages common breaks to stop bodily or psychological burnout. NFU is encouraging farmers to share the ways in which they keep secure on the farm on social media utilizing the hashtag #Take5StayAlive.

The “heartbreaking factor” about most farm accidents, UFU president Irvine mentioned, “is that they may have been prevented”.

“Engaged on a farm creates danger daily and we should be continually conscious and reminded of that to create a safer working setting and habits,” William Irvine mentioned.

“All of us are responsible of pondering ‘it’s going to by no means occur to me’. However, as Farm Security Week has proven up to now, and can do once more this yr, a farm accident can occur to anybody in a spilt second, altering lives endlessly.”